Rune casting is a form of divination that has been around for centuries. Not to be mistaken with fortune telling, divination is instead a way to gain insights and guidance for a specific question or situation. Runes themselves are typically made of stone, wood or clay and are usually oval or rectangular in shape. Each rune has a symbol from the ancient Runic alphabet on it, and each of these symbols has a name that carries a particular meaning and significance. When it comes to rune casting, there are no hard and fast rules to follow. But, there are some things you should keep in mind in order to carry out a successful and productive reading.
Preparations
Consult your runes during a time when you'll be free from interruptions and distractions. Create a quiet, peaceful atmosphere in the room where you'll be doing the rune casting. This means turning off the television, or CD player, and having the lighting in the room at a minimum. You may wish to light a candle or two in order to increase the level of calm and peace.
You will need a flat surface on which to cast your runes, such as a table top or board. When you're ready to begin, take a few moments to relax and ground your body and mind with some deep breathing. When you feel calm and focused it's time to begin.
Note- For this example we'll be looking at a simple three rune spread, but there are also many other types of rune spreads. To learn more about some other rune spreads, take a look at Spiral Castle.
Casting the Runes
Hold your bag of runes in your receptive hand, which is your non-writing hand, and focus on the question or issue for which you're seeking guidance. With your other hand, gently stir the runes within the bag.
You will then draw the runes out of the bag one at a time. Let your intuition, or inner knowing, guide you and help you sense which runes to choose.
One at a time, place three rune stones in a horizontal line, working from right to left. The rune on the right represents the past, as it relates to the question or issue on which you're focusing.
The center rune represents the present, as it relates to the question or issue. It can also represent your present state of mind.
The rune on the left represents the future, as it relates to the question or issue. This is the outcome of the issue, or the action that needs to be taken.
Note- Lay your runes out exactly as they come into your hand, even if they're face down or reversed. This positioning can have an influence on your reading.
To find the meanings of the rune symbols in your spread, you can refer to a rune book or reference sites on the web such as Meanings of the Runes.
Although it's necessary to have a basic understanding of the symbols, it's very important to trust your own feelings and intuition. For example, the Fehu symbol generally represents wealth and abundance. But this doesn't just mean material wealth. It can also stand for an abundance of happiness, hope or social success. Fehu also represents self-esteem and fertility. If the Fehu symbol is reversed it can mean lack of self-esteem, greed, lack of control or the loss of something valuable. So how this is interpreted will depend upon the issue for which you're seeking insight, as well as the positioning of this rune in the spread. Trust your inner wisdom to help you decide which meanings apply to the issue at hand.
Keep in mind that messages contained in your rune spread are not absolute or set in stone. They are simply guidance and a way to examine the cause and effect of a situation, as well as a possible outcome.
Some Helpful Tips
It can be helpful to write down notes about your rune spread, such as the actual runes you drew as well as your observations and the insights you learned.
If any of your rune spreads seem confusing, you can always replace the runes in the bag and draw them again.
Some people find it helpful to meditate, pray or call upon their spirit guides before laying out their rune spread.
There are different types of rune sets which are based on a variety of rune systems. The best rune systems for beginners are usually the Elder Futhark and the Gothic Futhark.
Further Reading
Rune Casting for Divination
